“It looks like his World Cup is in serious jeopardy.”
Ireland endured a costly first half in Bayonne during their final Rugby World Cup warmup clash against Samoa.
Andy Farrell’s side headed into half-time 10-7 behind the Islanders, however it was an injury to loosehead Cian Healy which will be the greatest cause of concern for the Irish coaching ticket.
The 35-year-old limped off just 20 minutes into the opening half, aided by the Irish physio team.
Bracing down for a scrum against the abrasive Samoan pack, Healy appeared to suffer a serious calf injury as the opposing pack drove back the Irish forwards to win a set-piece penalty.
Cian Healy being carried from the field of play during last summer’s tour of New Zealand. (Credit: Getty Images)Jamie Heaslip fears the worst for Cian Healy:
Ireland’s usual third choice loosehead Dave Kilcoyne is currently injured himself, leaving Ireland extremely short in depth on the eve of next month’s World Cup in France.
Munster’s Jeremy Loughman came on to win his fourth cap, replacing the veteran Leinster prop who winced in pain as he left the field.
Reviewing the footage in game, RTE commentator Hugh Cahill said, “It looks like his (Healy’s) World Cup is in serious jeopardy.”
That injury which has placed Cian Healy's World Cup chances in jeopardy
📺Watch: https://t.co/X7cSkZilkC
💻Updates: https://t.co/d3i8Pyonax pic.twitter.com/7k8UmJHtMp— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) August 26, 2023
Former teammate Jamie Heaslip further remarked in studio at halftime;
“Seeing a man like Cian Healy coming off the field and being carried off is never a good sign. It takes a lot for an individual like Cian not to be able to come off himself.”
It is not the first time Healy has suffered a potentially serious injury during his career, after the 125 cap stalwart sustained a serious ankle injury playing for the British and Irish Lions back in 2017.
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